COVE accelerates the commercialization of marine-based products by creating a collaborative environment for businesses. To achieve this, it builds strategic partnerships. James Kesten, Director | Venture Growth, emphasizes that these partnerships enable companies to commercialize their technologies and compete in international markets.
COVE’s approach to collaboration has already delivered tangible results. Through the Global Incubator Programme with Innovate UK, COVE gives UK marine-based businesses access to North American testbeds, networks, and investors. Participants benefit from tailored support, industry events such as the H2O Conference and COVE Demo Day, and connections with international stakeholders eager to adopt innovative technologies.
COVE’s reach extends beyond Canada. A partnership with Germany, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2021, created new pathways for knowledge sharing, trade missions, and Canadian companies seeking to enter the European market. This partnership continues to expand, underscoring the growing potential for collaboration across Europe’s marine economy.
Defence innovation is another area where COVE serves as a critical connector between small-medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and the global defence community. In partnership with Thales, a leader in defence, aerospace, and maritime technology, COVE delivers the Naval Technology Innovation Challenges Program, enabling SMEs to develop solutions for the Royal Canadian Navy. The program illustrates how localized innovations can achieve global scale, integrating SMEs into international supply chains. By facilitating collaboration between emerging companies and established defence organizations, COVE strengthens innovation. This supports SME market growth and provides industry leaders such as Thales with access to advanced technologies.
One company that exemplifies the impact of these collaborations is HonuWorx, a UK-based leader in subsea robotics. An alumnus of the Innovate UK Programme and a current participant in the NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Accelerator Program, HonuWorx is advancing dual-use subsea technology with global potential. In April 2025, the company led a COVE Ocean Connector event, showcasing how the DIANA program is accelerating its robotics solutions and offering a glimpse into the future of subsea innovation.
Through partnerships like these, COVE is proving itself as a critical connector, linking companies, global corporations, research institutions, and defence organizations. The result is a stronger, more resilient marine economy where innovations scale faster, businesses grow, and international collaboration drives lasting impact.